Wednesday, April 22, 2020

This is a message to our patients and
those of you who are interested in services offered at Healing
Wisdom. As events continue with the COVID-19 we wish to extend our
heartfelt wishes that you and your loved ones are safe and remain
free from infection and that you are finding creative ways to live
each day. Learning to remain centered is vital for us all as stress
lowers our immune system which makes us vulnerable to illness.

As my office location is situated with
Gorman Chiropractic & Holistic Health Center, furthermore this office is officially listed as “life-enhancing” – my practice
is available to those who wish to pursue Traditional Acupuncture and
related therapies as a viable means for immune system support.
However, if you have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, please do
not come at this time for the safety of others.

To safeguard your protection,
particular measures are reinforced:

The patient is requested to remain in their vehicle until telephoned to enter the office. When called,
come directly to the treatment room, you will be met.

Please wear a face mask. The governor has requested that everyone wear one when going outdoors.
Either use gloves or a clean paper towel to open the door.

The room is sanitized for every treatment, prior to treatment and in-between treatments; the practitioner wears disposable gloves and a face mask for every patient.

You are encouraged to void your bladder and intestines at home prior to your visit to reduce or eliminate the use of the public toilet at the office. The office cleans and disaffects the bathroom regularly.

Returning home, follow these procedures for safety: please remove your shoes, preferably outside for sunlight cleaning, and remove your clothes indoors, preferably in your vestibule. Wash your garments and immediately shower and wash your hair. You should do this whenever you venture out in a public place.

May this historic world event pass soon
and may we all learn great lessons from its presence. May we move
forward towards greater health and equality for all beings on this
planet. Namaste.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

SEVEN
SACRED BREATH EXERCISES

In
order to ‘open the routes’ of passage for good and proper energy
flow, we must clear all obstructions which hinder the natural flow of
Chi. Blockage is usually due to three things: physical impediments,
mental impediments and emotional impediments. Each is caused by a
variety of stressors internally or externally: endogenous or
exogenous factors. Exogenous factors happen from the outside and
enter the interior of the form or attach to its exterior such as
insect bites. Endogenous factors fester within the organism causing
for example poorly functioning organ systems such as weak digestion
and eliminatory organs. This can be a mild attack or it can become
deep rooted illness such as diverticulitis.

It
is helpful to know that the energy routes in the body are grounded in
the greater and powerful balancing forces of Nature which exerts its
influence upon us continually. We can utilize the natural healing
forces of Nature, in this case with the power of Air, thru ‘breath’,
in order to remove and clear obstructions and revitalize the natural
energy flow of body/mind/emotion for Spirit.

The
first flow of energy is one route which courses downward in front of
the body. If its natural course is reversed and it goes upward,
there can be ill effects such as dizziness. In the Chinese and East
Asian perspective, this “Functional Channel” is called Yin and
has Yin qualities, such as being cold, quiet, and expansive. It is
named the Conceptual Vessel (Ren Mai). Its complimentary energy
channel flows downward. It is named the Governing Vessel (Du Mai).
Its qualities are hot, loud, and contractual. Point to remember that
the comparison between Yin and Yang Qualities is relative, and one
can only compare one quality at a time. For Yin becomes Yang and
Yang becomes Yin, the two energy forces are always moving one into
the other. Chi never stops changing. If it did, there would be no
life.

As
we examine and practice each of the following exercises, we notice
that we are directing the Chi Force of both the Governing Vessel (Du
Mai which is a Yang Channel) and Conception Vessel (Ren Mai is aYin
Channel). One flows upward mid-section of the body’s front and the
other going downward mid-section in the back of the body. Together
the Du Mai and Ren Mai coordinate all bodily activities.

Each
of the following breathing exercises activates and brings balance to
your three bodies: the physical/mental/emotional bodies. Breath
is the key
factor to all of life.
Without breath/air we cannot sustain life on our planet Earth. No
physical form is sustainable. All living beings require oxygen.
Every fabric of a living being comprised of organs, muscles, nerves,
skeletal, soft tissue et cetera relies fully upon breath to feed it
for proper transformational energy, functioning and maintenance.
Furthermore, this air
holds a Life ForceEnergy called Prana,
Vital Life Force, or Chi. It
is this innate life force which states we are alive.

Breathing
properly, breathing deeply and thoroughly calms the parasympathetic
nervous system and supports the chemical reactions and requirements
for our organic body which in turn enables our brain, systems and
organs to function well. As a footnote: The
parasympathetic nervous system
is one of three divisions of the autonomic
nervous system. The
other nervous systems are: the sympathetic
nervous system and the
enteric nervous system.
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating our
unconscious actions. The parasympathetic nervous system is
responsible for “stimulation of ‘rest and digest’ or ‘feed
and breed’ activities which occur when the body is at rest. Such
activities include eating, salivation, digestion, assimilation,
urination, defecation, lacrimation, and sexual arousal. Its actions
are described as being complementary to the sympathetic nervous
system which holds responsibility for stimulating activities
associated with the ‘fight-or-flight’ response. The enteric
nervous system, also
known as the ‘intrinsicnervous system’,
is a subdivision of the nervous system proper, and it consists of a
mesh-like system of neurons which governs our gastrointestinal
functions. It is separate from the autonomic nervous system because
it has an independent reflex activity. The enteric nervous system is
also known as ‘the second brain’. When performing these breathing
exercises imagine a stream of breath, pure, clean air flowing fluidly
in and out of your body. Don’t hold a straight line, geometrically
stiff, angular pathway in your mind’s eye. Air is fluid and almost
amorphous.

EXERCISE
I: “Halo
Disc of Light” –
Perform this exercise 12 times.

INNER
MANTRA: MANTRA:
“I AM ONE WITH INFINITE INTELLIGENCE DIVINE”.

Sit
in a half-lotus position. Keep your spine straightened. You may

use
a Yoga pillow under your buttock to support your backside in this
posture if you find your abdominal muscles cannot retain this
position with ease. The pillow permits you to sit comfortably and
longer with distraction.

BREATHING
TECHNIQUE: ‘CIRCLES
ABOVE HEAD’

Imagine
a circle forming over your head as you breathe and your breath moves
likewise in a circular pattern above your head. Imagine a fluid
breath moving from your occipital, the base of your skull, and it
arches upward above your head to the top of your skull, to the “Crown
Lotus Chakra” and beyond.

EXHALE:
Exhale 8 counts of breath. Your breath travels from the region above
your Crown Chakra forward to the front of the skull and moves
downward to connect again with the occipital region, the baseline of
your skull. It is a
circle flowing above, beyond, and inside your skull.

never
slouching, your rib case moves from side to side with each inhalation
and exhalation. Whilebreathing and moving
keep your torso and abdomen still.
In other words, do not make excessive or exaggerated movements in
the torso.

EXHALE:
Exhale 8 counts moving your ribcage to the left. Then inhale on the
left 8 counts, hold 8 counts; then exhale to the right 8 counts,
inhale 8 counts and hold 8 counts. Repeat this pattern for 12 times.

INHALE:
Inhale fully, taking as much air as you can for the count of 12,
beginning from the top of the Crown Chakra and the area above it.
Hold your breath for
the count of 6. When
you achieve better breath control you can retain your breath for 12
counts and eventually longer spans of time.

EXHALE:
Exhale forcibly downward into the navel and the base of your spine
and the area below it. This pushes away all blockages in the
physical/mental/emotional body and frees up your Pranic Tube of
Light. With every strong exhalation, you are releasing old thoughts
and feeling that do not serve your Highest Good.

INHALE:
Take a breath from a hand’s distance below your left foot. Breathe
in deeply to the count of 8 reaching the pelvic floor.

EXHALE:
For 8 counts exhale moving across the pelvic floor, downward on the
right side to the Lower Chakra located beneath the Root Chakra about
the distance of your hand’s length. Keep your breathing smooth and
flowing, it moves like a gentle stream of water.

INHALE:
Breathing slowly and evenly draw your breath starting a hand’s
distance from below your left foot. Take your breath up your left
leg to the navel. At the navel point imagine your breath as it
crosses over to the right side, going upward over the abdomen to the
Crown Chakra.

EXHALE:
Gently exhale from the Crown Chakra moving downward on the left side
of your body, crossing over at the navel and continuing exhalation
downward on the right side to the area below the right foot.

EYE
MOVEMENT: Keep your
eyes closed feeling the power of your breath. Feel its movement and
maintain the silent mantra.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

In
ancient Asia centuries ago a sought after life pursuit was gaining
longevity. Longevity was promoted thru "Right Exercise, Right
Eating, Right Thinking, Right Actions," and generally balancing the
body not only by eating particular foods suitable for the condition
and constitution of the individual but by using herbs, taking
sufficient water, having good elimination, and using T'ui-na
(a hands-on therapy
similar to Shiatsu)
and employing Traditional Acupuncture.

Facial
Acupuncture initially was a side product of a general body treatment.
Today it is utilized as a full protocol for non-invasive Facial
Rejuvenation, a 'facelift' without going under the knife. All
meridians or energy channels pass thru the face. Needling activates
not only the immediate site but areas distal. Besides producing a
'natural facial glow', benefits of Facial Acupuncture are excellent
for conditions such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint), Bell's Palsy,
and Facial Tics (TD or tardive
dyskinesia).

About one-third of
all adults experience TMJ sometime in their life. It is a disorder of
the jaw and surrounding facial muscles of the jaw joint that control
chewing and jaw movement. The temporomandibular joint is hung like a
hinge on a door as it connects your jaw to your skull, with a point
on either side of the jaw. Muscle controlling the jaw can become
affected by various muscular strain, cramping, repetitive motions,
and trauma. Grinding one's teeth or teeth clenching, are common
off-shoots of TMJ disorder, as well as jaw pain, tenderness in the
face, jaw area, neck, even shoulders, and around an ear, can become
painful. Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw may be
heard, while closing the mouth may become difficult. Myofascial pain
is characterized by localized hypersensitive spots - taut muscle
fibers.

Traditional
Acupuncture uses needling sites which include the points at the jaw
hinge and lines following the facial contour. Meridians passing thru
affected areas are the Small Intestines, Triple Warmer, Stomach,
Large Intestines, and Gall Bladder. In addition, there are distal
points in the hands and arms or feet and legs to each of those
Meridians that may also be utilized in treatment. Relief
in most cases I have worked with is almost instantaneous.
There is markedly reduced pain, swelling, cramping, to the total
absence of any symptoms. A treatment's effect may last indefinitely,
to lasting weeks. Exacerbation of joint movement, repetitive motions,
emotional stress, and other factors can re-trigger the problem.

British and
American studies reinforce these facts. Acupuncture reduces pain
levels thru direct stimulation of the nerves which in turn change the
quality of signaling the nerve cells. Furthermore, endorphins,
naturally occurring substances, block pain perception by the brain,
and other biological actions take place. Muscle spasm is reduced.
Clicking stops by relaxing lateral pterygoid muscles; lessening
pressure on the anterior displaces force put upon the meniscus of the
temporomandibular joint. Needles are inserted in areas of pain.
Distal points may also be employed.

Facial
Tics, known as tardive
dyskinesia (TD) are also
greatly relieved by receiving Traditional Acupuncture. TD is a
disorder of uncontrollable muscle spasm in the face, torso and/or
other body parts. Facial tics are generally viewed as a nuisance and
not derivative of other major disorders by Western medicine. In East
Asian Medicine that view is not
held. Al unnatural movements of the body, emotions, and mind are
symptomatic of 'something' energetically and/or biologically
occurring. East Asian Medicine would also evaluate that TD is an
off-shoot of Kidney Meridian and Kidney Organ Functions malfunction
or harboring 'energetic' weakness. Such weaknesses left untreated
will develop into 'conditions' then 'diseases', The
body and mind are always recording everything that goes on it and
around it.

Bell's Palsy is a
condition of muscular weakness or paralysis on one side of the face.
In some cases, the nerves on both sides of the face become afflicted.
Ones face tends to droop, or become very stiff on the affected side.
Bell's Palsy may occur after a stroke, or a viral infection such as
chickenpox and shingles, genital herpes, cold sores, German measles,
Cytomegalovirus infections, hand-foot-mouth disease, mumps,
respiratory illnesses, and infectious mononucleosis. Other symptoms
of this disorder are drooling, taste decline, changes in saliva and
tear amount, difficulty making facial expressions, pain around the
jaw or behind the ear on the afflicted side, headache, and rapid
onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on the troubled side of the
face. The diagnosis of the various diseases will require other
protocols in addition to using Traditional Acupuncture.

One patient,
Rachel Renee remarks, "I have struggled with partial facial
paralysis (Bell's Palsy) my entire life. The nerves in my face never
worked. After just one Acupuncture treatment with Dr. Wah, I could
see my dimple on my lazy side. Her treatments have been truly
life-altering for me! Every few weeks is enough to keep my face
twitch-free and my self-image a little higher."

Visit
me, Laila Wah, at www.lailawah.comand on Facebook and
Youtube. You can create optimal health and happiness in your life.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

There are a
variety of ways to project more positive surgical outcome
before surgery, and to speed up recovery after the trauma of surgery. Using
Traditional Acupuncture is high on the list. It is safe, efficient,
cost-effective and has amazingly fast results. Receiving Acupuncture pre-operative is smart and pro-active. Acupuncture received
before surgery: 1) Decreases pain and inflammation. 2) Strengthens
immunity. 3) Offers a better surgical outcome. 4) Affords the body to
heal more quickly. 5) Decreases wound recovery time.

Case
Report: Photo of BEFORE and AFTER Acupuncture: A
female in her mid-thirties had knee surgery a few days before seeing
me. She needed to travel by airplane from the East Coast to return
home on the West Coast. Her knee and leg had inflammation (her leg
was twice the size of her other leg), fluid retention, bruising,
discoloration and she was experiencing severe pain. She could
barely walk. She had two days to change her condition in order to make
her flight; otherwise, her doctor would forbid flying. She was looking
for relief and immediate results.

This
photograph shows the before Acupuncture treatment, then after her
treatment. The difference is visibly astounding. She had one more
treatment the following day and then was able to receive 'the all-clear' from her doctor.

Our bodies require time to heal after any surgical invasion. For the body, it doesn't matter how insignificantly small a procedure may have been termed, such as wart removal, teeth extraction, or cleaning out scar tissue. 'Going under the knife' triggers a variety of protective, physical responses. Symptoms occur such as 1) Pain -- levels of pain intensity will vary from person to person. Pain can be intense, moderate, or manageable. Pain will be concentrated at the site of the procedure, or travel to distant parts, or encompass the entire body. 2) Inflammation and swelling of soft tissue and/or of organs is a common feature. 3) Skin, soft tissue, redness, discoloration, and bruising occur at the site or encompass larger bodily areas. 4) Scar tissue build-up at the surgical site is inevitable. 5) The inability to move a limb or the area where operated on is a given. The area is tender, stiff, and sore; it mustn't be expressed, cleaning of wounds are surgical-specific. 6) Numbness or tingling is common. This happens with limbs, for expample after a rotator cuff operation. The hands and fingers, usually on one side, will become numb with tingling sensations running from the shoulder into the fingertips. The sensation is uncomfortable and even painful and limits mobility. 7) Weakness is experienced in the area operated upon. If it's a limb, you won't be able to move it, lift it, or make use of it. Everything is dependent on the severity and type of operation, and the condition and constitution of the patient. 8) Fluid retention and puffiness around the operated site are common. 9) Adhesions and scars often form at the surgical site. They impinge free movement, illicit pain, and retard recovery.Other
natural things you can do to assist your healing: 1) Drink
water - drinking
copious amounts of water helps rid the body of chemical and toxin
build-up from surgery and hydrates all cells. 2) Manage
your scar withVitamin
enriched oils, such as Vitamin E. 4) Take the Homeopathic
Remedy Arnica 30C pre
and post-operative. Also, use Hypericum
30C and
Arnica
Cream for
topical areas for bruising and discoloration when permissible. 5)
Eat
nutritionally enriching foods, and
eat 'for your blood type.' The correct nutritional diet will ensure
wound recovery time will be lessened. 6) Take
a Probiotic, such
as yogurt without added sugar. Avoid alcohol. 7) Take Vitamin
supplements. 8)
Cough
often if
you were given anesthesia. Anesthesia hampers normal breathing and
suppresses the urge to cough. Mucous can build up in your lungs after
surgery. One complication after surgery is a collapsed lung. 9) Have
outside
support to
help you thru the initial healing. This is particularly important for
all major surgeries and for lesser ones such as laser eye surgery,
shoulder or knee surgery.

Visit
us on FB and at lailawah.comTo
make an appointment call: 267-306-0143

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Becoming your own advocate of improved health is easy. It is not difficult to take a minute or so each day to boost your immune system and vitalize your organs. Your body has been “defending” itself all your life, with or without your help, and it has generations of quality genes to help it along. What your body owns is natural wisdom. When you get a symptom of some ache or pain, a runny nose, tightness in your head or chest, your body is trying to get your attention! It doesn’t mean you are very ill, or damaged, not yet. The subtle energies of the body may not be in order. An ache or pain can be a message from the upper layer, the tendio-muscular-fascia layers, or it may go deeper, to organ energetic activity. If the imbalance has hit your organs, this is more serious; you really haven’t been listening.All healing is ultimately “self healing”. Why? Because along the way, day in and day out you have a choice to make. The choices you make have led you to today. Perhaps you all ready are a health advocate for yourself. There is still room for fine tuning. Choices are many. You can draw from herbs, homeopathic remedies, food, fasting, juicing, meditation, Yoga, Pilates, exercise, spending time in Nature, Acupuncture, massage, Shiatsu, chiropractic therapy and so forth. Your immune system needs regular vigor and spark. Effective attitudes and treatment strategies ultimately catalyze this spark. What do we mean by “healing”? To “fix” something is immediate and usually mechanically based. To “cure” something is to make the problem permanently go away. To “heal” something may or may not involve a fix or a cure, but healing delves into deeper regions of our matrix. Healing can be a change of attitude, a new approach in lifestyle, another way of being in the world. Healing leads to happiness.

STEPS TOWARD HEALING:

1. You are the most important member of your health care team! “The next major advance in the health of the American people will be determined by what the individual is willing to do for him or herself.” – John Knowles. Our bodies give us hints all the time – do you listen and respond appropriately? Or are you ignoring the messages? 2. When Nature Calls, Answer: Symptoms are the body’s signals that something is up, and we better start listening. Often these symptoms are responses the body makes in efforts to deal with stress, strain or infection. When we choose temporary solutions, like “pain killers” which suppress symptoms, or rush to get a quick fix from over the counter medications, and do not address the “root cause” of the ailment, we are actually working against our body instead of with it to promote wellness and healing. Pain is Nature’s way to get your attention that something is out of balance. Headaches, arthritis, menstrual cramps, neck pain are reporters. The challenge of any type of pain is to understand what it is saying. Give your pain positive feedback – accept the presenting challenge for positive change. “If you don’t come to terms with your shadow, it will appear in your life as your fate.” – Carl Jung

A SYMPTOM IS ANY PHENOMENON OR CIRCUMSTANCE ACCOMPANYING AN AILMENT AND SERVING AS EVIDENCE OF IT!

Undoubtedly, there is a mind-body connection with everything. Emotional and mental states have direct bodily effects and visa-versa. It isn’t always easy to discern which came first. That’s why it is important to TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON. Treating the whole person is the best health strategy. Treating the “whole person” means addressing the body, mind and emotions. They are all interconnected. Emotional and mental states have a direct correlation on bodily effects and the other way around.3. Seek Inner Wisdom:“Direct you eye inward and you’ll find 1,000 regions in your mind yet undiscovered.” – Henry David Thoreau. Some brain researchers consider the brain as a “filter of perception” not as an organ of perception. Your brain registers all manner of physical changes. When you relax, meditate or contemplate, you open up to your “inner wisdom”. Then you are better able to hear what your inner wisdom is saying to you. Help and answers come in various forms: a therapist, an animal, a book, yourself.4. Take Responsibility for Your Health: You can become better informed. Find new avenues to help yourself. But NEVER take blame for your disease. Guilt doesn’t help heal you, instead it causes stress. Become informed and take action. There is always some way to approach what you are experiencing. Being unwell can be a wake-up call, a learning tool, a quantum leap towards education and pursuit of a new profession. Nothing in your life happens in a vacuum. Everything means something. Taking action can mean trying another natural therapy. Getting a homeopathic remedy, or an herbal formula, incorporate a new culinary approach appropriate for your condition, exercise and stretching are just some tools for creating a healing path.

SOME METAPHYSICAL APPROACHES TO HEALING:

1. Take laughter seriously. Laughter releases endorphins into the blood stream, thus relaxing the body. It burns calories and boosts the immune system. Studies indicate people who laugh are healthier and have increased longevity. So lighten up!2. Relax, Yet Appreciate the “Right Type of Stress”. The Chinese character for “crisis” also means “opportunity” . When your body is giving out signals, when it is trying to get your attention by those little aches and pains, it is an opportunity to do something amazing and simply healing. Notice where you hold stress, do a life check. Don’t let the little things get to you. Head them off in time so they don’t cause “body impact”. Relax and move into purposeful Intention.3. Self Medicate with Self Esteem: A wonderful exercise to do for self-esteem is write by hand, and then say aloud 5 things you appreciate about yourself. Also say these nice things about yourself in front of a mirror. Begin with: “I appreciate about myself…” Do this exercise daily for 21 days. There is a body-mind connection. If you put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the outside world will mirror this. Low self-esteem leads to lowered immunity, depressions, un-wellness. So SMILE! Endorphins release into your blood stream and boost your immunity!4. Follow Your Bliss. Do What You Love: Whatever Is Constructive Is Life Giving: Take your passion and make it happen. As long as what you love is helpful to you or others, it is valuable. Take time daily to reflect, meditate, contemplate, and relax. Just BE! The power of “Right Intention” creates. Thoughts create “Stuff”. Right Intention opens doors and makes things happen. Connect with the wide world around you. Commune with Mother Nature, feel her power. Let her work through you. Open to the Universe and all good things. Wear a shield of Wisdom and develop Self-Realization. Only then can we be in the world, but not have the collective negativity impact upon us and crushing us. For more information on healing and acupuncture, please visit my website at: lailawah.com.

Friday, January 29, 2016

There is a Chinese saying: “Sage
within, Kingliness without” This describes the quality which
radiates from a pregnant woman, for she is a bridge between Mind,
Body, Heaven, Earth and Child. A flow between Mind and Body permits
Spirit to openly express and be received. It is innocence without
blemish.

When a woman achieves this mystical
connection and is open to Heavenly Forces which channel through her
body and bring forth new life, a greater power prevails inside her
womb. For it is within this seal, the confinement of her womb, that
the Creative Principle manifests form. The womb readies itself to
develop human life, to house Form and Spirit, and creates, anew,
within each moment.

When all elements converge in a smooth,
rhythm, it creates greater mental and physical health. Pregnancy is
one of the most wondrous, complex and self-affirming experiences
which a woman can have. The renewal of life is wondrous, be it
human, animal or plant. Even mineral life is wonderful, but as homeo
sapiens we marvel at how a baby becomes our mirror.

A woman’s preparation for pregnancy
is a great journey. Often times, adequate preparation is often
limited or not provided for. Ideally both father and mother
lovingly prepare their minds and bodies with health, peace and
clarity before conception One year cleansing lifestyle is
considered a good preparatory time prior to conception. Ideally both
parents are eating a nutritional diet, exercising, and are free of
artificial substances, including caffeine, medications, and
definitely no nicotine or alcohol are consumed. Having a focus of
clarity and receptivity towards welcoming a new life into your world
is ideal. When parents have a spiritual practice together, meditate,
do Yoga or other calming activities, a bond of Spirit exists.

This is the ideal preparation, but not
the norm for most conceptions. However, we can strive towards the
goal which draws Harmony, Peace, Balance and Wellness into one’s
life, and the life of the coming child. At whatever point a woman
is in her pregnancy, she can create healthier conditions for herself
and baby.

The art and therapy of Shiatsu and
Acupuncture has much to offer towards achieving these ends of greater
health for mother and child. Nurturing touch harmonizes and
stimulates the organ systems of mother, and consequently baby as they
are united. Positive input to the mother enhances fetal life and
creates an environment which promotes delivery.

Along with the nervous system, the skin
develops from the ectoderm, the outermost of three embryonic skin
layers. Taste, smell, hearing, vision and touch as well as teeth and
hair all derive from the ectoderm. All external stimuli converge
upon the skin. Thusly, the skin may be regarded as an external
nervous system.

Developmental beginnings and every
experience of the individual’s life are recorded in the cellular
memory of our skin and deeper tissues. The skin is the largest organ
of the body. The skin continually provides information about its
environment both external and internal environments. As the skin develops its sensitivity depends upon
the type of stimulation it receives. In prenatal life the skin is
the first organ to completely develop. Embryologically, the earliest
function to develop is the most fundamental to the body.

In utereo experiences can emotionally
affect the fetus later in life. For example, if a pregnant woman is
trapped in an elevator and the elevator drops suddenly, the baby may
develop a fear of heights. But if the abdomen of the mother is
gently massaged, the sensations registered by the fetus create a
sense of well being.

Shiatsu and Acupuncture together are
excellent therapeutic tools for the pregnant woman. Shiatsu can be
given alone, or in combination with an Acupuncture treatment. In the
early trimester when a woman can still lie on her stomach, her
positioning is prone and supine. As the fetus develops and she can
no longer lie upon her stomach, lying on her side and back are the
positions chosen.

Gentle Shiatsu is given first, prior to offering Acupuncture as a means for kneading
and opening any tightened musculature or compressed vertebrae and
other joints. When treatments are received on an on-going basis,
once a week or bi-weekly, throughout the pregnancy the health of the
mother, and the outcome of an easier vaginal delivery can be assured.Acupuncture can be given on the back, legs, arms, feet, neck and head, but NOT THE ABDOMEN. When a woman is too enlarged for lying in a prone position, she lies on her side to receive Acupuncture on her back. Then she lies supine, on her back with a bolster under her legs. Points are used distally on arms, legs, feet, neck and head.

BENEFITS OF SHIATU &
ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENTS FOR THE PREGNANT WOMAN

Relaxes
the musculature and tonus

Increases blood and lymphatic circulation

Helps prevent edema

Stimulates Organ Systems of
both mother and child

Helps
decrease or eliminate morning sickness

Ensures improved circulation to the limbs to
help deter varicose veins